This is such a sad story. I never knew. I begged my mother to take me to see her dance in Durban, South Africa in the early 1970’s and we saw the most beautiful performance. Her age was obvious and yet, the magic of her dancing and her persona eclipsed it. Two tickets cost my mother a third of her monthly salary and I don’t know how she did it. We travelled 90 miles to see that performance and yet it lives in my heart to this day. Dame Margot Fonteyn was truly one of the greats. It is so sad that she has that tiny plaque on her grave. However, she has left a legacy indeed.
I have always had respect for her as a ex-ballet dancer myself but i didnt know her life story. I have even more respect for her now knowing her beautiful qualities n on n off stage. She deserved a man who sincerly loved her . May GOD bless you with His Grace n eternal life...thank you for all the beauty n grace u have given us❤a true prima ballerina...Bravo🎉
What an interesting account of Margo Fonteyns life, So sad that her personal life was so unsettled, The partnership with Nureyev was something magical, I had the pleasure of seeing them both dance at Covent Garden and have always remembered it
I was fortunate enough to have been stationed in London in the late 50’s in the Air Force. I was introduced to the magic of Fonteyn and the Royal Ballet, and enjoyed experiencing the performances for two seasons. One of the most exciting exciting experiencing of my life!, Will never forget the beauty and delicacy of Margot Fonteyn,,,
Марго Фонтейн👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽балерина,которая продлила свою творческую жизнь надолго,во многом благодаря Нурееву.Истинная леди.В личной жизни столько ей пришлось пережить.Но она стоически всё выдержала.И свою карму пронесла достойно,как настоящая женщина.Очень трогательные отношения были у них с Нуреевым.Очень человеческие,настоящие,проверенные всей жизнью.Спасибо.
...had the great, good fortune to be a student, being taught by Pamela May and Julia Farron, amongst other amazing teachers and having the honour to be on stage with Dame Margot and Nureyev. Whenever seen walking the school's corridors, what stood out most, was her humbleness, unique beauty and grace and through the years, can honestly say, the title 'Royal', belongs to the greatest ballerina of all time, Dame Margot Fonteyn and to Dame Ninette de Valois, without whom, the legend that is today's Royal Ballet, would not exist. XX
Me as well! Although I suspect I came along a little later: 1971. I was in Farron’s and May’s calluses as they had retired. Fonteyn and Nureyev were still dancing. I was the only American at the school and we weren’t allowed to be in any class if a scout came to look. However, unbeknownst to me at the time, Nureyev was campaigning for me to have a real chance. Fonteyn was just so stunning in every way. A complex person who seemed as innocent as Sleeping Beauty but led a much more complicated and tormented life. Thank god for Nureyev who anonymously cared for her and paid her considerable bills (medical and others) as she was slowly dying. Nureyev himself was dying, too. Both stars forgotten although Rudolph more than Fonteyn whom Ninette de Valois organized a great gala in her honor at Covent Garden.
Watching this clip from the greatest Pas in the greatest moment in the greatest ballet, Act II Giselle - it was Nureyev who was the greater actor - Fonteyn had a body that imbued perfect proportions but Nureyev’s use of his head and port de bras and lifts shows the amazing symmetry that Nureyev created . Who knows how much greater he heights Fonteyn could have achieved if not dragged down by her wretched husband
Нежная, женственная, и такая стоическая, преданная, человечная. Не устаю восхищаться не только балериной, но и личностью великой женщины. Прожив жизнь, не могу никого поставить рядом с ней по всем статьям. Дуэт и отношения с Нуриевым многое добавляют в её судьбе.❤
i just finished reading Colum McCann's "Dancer" about Nureyev. Came here to learn more about Margot and wow- what a heartbreaking but hauntingly beautiful life.
It’s been said that she had already been greatly disappointed in love. Her fantasy love 💕 life dancing and her dreams sustained her. She was a great dancer and was immersed in dance the way Nureyev was. Their love was real in her and his life. He saw her uncritical loyalty and knew how her status raised his. She helped him grow into a man, polished off his rough edges, and demonstrated diplomacy to him. Her happiness with him was completely real. He took loving care of her after Tito stole all her money. When Nureyev loved, he loved well. She had a fairy tale life with Rudi.
Руди высылал Марго деньги на лечение и на расходы.И делал это инкогнито! Но я думаю что Марго всегда знала кто присылает ей деньги! ❤❤❤Руди верный друг!
Her ability and contribution to dance is well documented and although technique has improved markedly, her beauty and grace is still astounding. And that smile..... breathtaking.
I have heard otherwise. Technique has deteriorated. It demands more than the human body is capable of doing without damage. The Cechetti style of The Six Days strengthens the body. Amusingly, it is considered "too hard" (!) for modern dancers.
I feel so bad for the last days of her life. She is a dancing Angel. I hope some day return to Panama and put beautiful roses just like her in her graveyard. She deserve more. She deserve to be remember for ever.
In spite of what the narrators of this worthwhile film about the private life of Margot Fonteyn say, it is well known today within the ballet world that Fonteyn and Nureyev were lovers throughout their partnership. At the time, he was a gay man and she was a married woman with a title. People respected public figures enough in the 1960's and early 1970's, when they were in their prime as partners, not to even speculate as to the romantic nature of their personal relationship. And while Kenneth MacMillan may have been disappointed that the manager of the Royal Ballet (in London) and Sol Hurok (in New York) insisted that Fonteyn and Nureyev dance the premiere of his production of Romeo and Juliet instead of the dancers upon whom the roles it had been created, their performance together in this piece was, in many of their fans' minds, their signature piece and one their most compelling feats of as a team of dancers. They transported audiences to heights of ecstasy and rapture that enabled both spectators to transcend the limitations of mortal love and experience a collective love that left them literally reeling after the balcony scene in Act I. The chemistry between Fonteyn and Nureyev was unlike that of any other pair of dancers who ever danced together--more powerful and unique than any team in history. On average they received nineteen curtain calls a night and at openings and premieres their curtains calls were in the forties. And if people within the Royal Ballet resented them it was foolish because as a pair they actually drew more attention to the other splendid principals of the Royal Ballet, such as Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell, Svetlana Beriosova and so on--so that these dancers enjoyed far more attention and acclaim in their day because of the large audiences Fonteyn and Nureyev were attracting in general for the Royal Ballet. Ask yourself, when was the last time the Royal Ballet booked the Metropolitan Opera House in New York for six weeks in May? Rudolf Nureyev was one of the dancers in history who regularly was capable of packing any opera house he danced in to the max. And with the exception of the very last few years of her career, Fonteyn gave 200% every time she danced with Nureyev and never had to apologize or "cheat" anything technically. She was stronger technically at 45 than she had been at 25. She had nothing to apologize for. I have never heard it said that Nureyev coerced her into retirement. If anything, he wanted her to continue dancing as long as possible and feared the day she would no longer be there to intervene between the management of the Royal Ballet and himself as an artist. He has stated his anticipation of this in an interview; he expected that as soon as she retired he would be kept around "to fill the house" and, again, as he expected, when Ashton retired, he was not offered the opportunity to become Artistic Director at any point in the future. Throughout his entire partnership with Fonteyn he was touring with other companies and dancing with many, many ballerinas. He had never been cornered into an exclusive partnership with Fonteyn. Their partnership was simply the most remarkable, power, romantic, riveting and suspenseful partnership on stage in dance history. At one point following Fonteyn's inability to persuade Tito to be reasonable and grant her a divorce, Nureyev said privately that he ought to have married her, meaning given her the dignity of being a woman married to a man who truly loved and respected her and was a real partner in the most vital sense of word. He never did ask her to marry him however. He was a gay man throughout his love affair with Fonteyn--something she handled with the sophistication and acceptance with which she handled many of the dichotomies in her life. Nureyev did not have great luck in relationships either. Erik Bruhn, his great and teacher, eventually left him after ten years when Nureyev's so eclipsed his own that he could no longer tolerate being in his shadow. The two women whom Nureyev fell in love with in the course of his life and asked to marry him (one on two continents) both turned him down. And while living with his teacher and the teacher's wife while at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg enabled him to receive the love, nurturing and protection of his mentor and his wife, Xenia, Xenia took terrible advantage of young Nureyev. She cooked for him, did his laundry. sewed elastics on his ballet slippers, pampered him, read to him, encouraged, picked him up after performances by the time he was performing with the Kirov--so that he could finally concentrate 100% on his art and create the innovations in male roles in classical ballets that made him famous before he even left Russia--but she expected him to make love to her in return for all of these things and kept a maniacal stranglehold on him. All of the things Xenia did for him she should have done out of the goodness of her heart and the love she had for this talented young artist. But she was a selfish, middle aged woman who could help herself. It is terribly sad that Nureyev was faced with having to respond to her desperate need to be made love to in order to receive the nurturing he so needed as an artist so that he could focus totally on his work. What a cynical point of view he was forced to accept in the bargain in order to keep things happen in the household where he had finally found the understanding and nurturing as an artist that he deserved. Having come from poverty and a family that he knew very well was backward and uneducated, he too was desperate to be informed, encouraged and taught the finer things in life. It is pitiful what he had to endure at the hands of Xenia. And yet, according to the story in Julie Kavanagh's definitive biography of him, he seems to have extended a terribly mature compassion and patience to her that almost seems beyond his years. People carry on about how he had to leave Russia because he was gay and because he wanted to dance on the world stage. But how would he ever have escaped Xenia had he stayed in Russia. She exploited him and his mentor, Pushkin, either looked the other way or slept through it night after night. I suspect the latter. It's my observation over many, many decades that the love lives of ballet dancers are never easy. I think the relationship that Fonteyn and Nureyev had was possible one of the happiest and most successful romantic relationships in ballet history. And as one of the narrators says, anyone who saw them dance together in their prime could feel the genuine passion and love between them. It ignited the ballet boom in the west and they toured extensively for years. Together, they are responsible for igniting and spreading the ballet audience in the west during the second half of the 20th century. One last note: in the final years of Fonteyn's life with TIto, as stated in the documentary, they had endless money problems. Nureyev paid for both Fonteyn and Tito's medical bills--no questions asked. One reason that there is such a small plaque for Fonteyn in the Arias family gravesite is that she was buried in a public grave with masses of corpses she had no relation to other than having been "first lady" of Panama in her fantasies at one moment in her life.
Best prima ballerina before Yulia Makhalina came.. One of the most breathtakingly charming, truthful, moving and strong human being I have ever seen on stage and in real life. ...Hats off !!!
Rudolf must have loved her, because he paid for all her medical and hospital bills when she was sick and some said he was very sad and lost when she passed. He himself was very sick with aids when she died and didn't or couldn't attend her funeral. There is all kinds of love. Maybe she was the only woman he was capable of loving. He told his personal assistant in the last years of his life that he should have married her. I think they definitely expressed their love and passion on stage. With Tito's cheating on her, she still had that love on stage and who knows, possibly off stage. I really don't see that kind of passion when I watch the videos of Rudolf dancing with other ballerinas. He said that Margot and he were like one, body and soul when they performed. Wow, talk about loving your job! ❤
She was breathtaking; her technique, artistry, the lines, especially with Nureyev. While today's ballerinas are stronger, they don't have the technical perfection of Margot. Her husband was the worst. Wiki mentions that he had 3 kids with his first wife while hers says nothing.
I followed her career some, read her autobio and saw hagiographic documentaries. Without question a dancer of genius, this is an interesting portrait of all that went in behind that triumphant image. Of course, I suspected the life she presented was a fantasy, as portrayed here. Thanks for posting.
What a tragic life Margot Fonteyn had she helped so many people in her life, and being The Greatest Ballerina in the Century, not forgetting Darcey Bursell. So very sad she deserved more in her life. What a Woman.
Yeah, I was shook after I watched a documentary of her life ... in particular in her later years. The snooty ballet world was demonic....period. I do wish she would have just left ole Tito and Annabella to themselves. Such a damn cheat he was.
@@heaven7360 I also think her biggest mistake was taking Tito back to London with five bullets in him and against the wishes of the Arias family. That was her biggest error. Had she left him in Panama he might not have lost his speech and she could have declared that his family did not wish her to take him away. Then after a few years she could have divorced him quietly based on them living separate lives. She should actually have done that as soon as he stayed away from her the first time. However, we all make our choices. A lesson in life to look beyond the obvious. Many a charlatan roaming around these days!
Обожаю Марго Фонтейн!!!Выразительна лицом, жестами,в танце все играет роль.Она очень женственна,чувственна и это ее главное отличие от других известных балерин на Западе!!!!!!Память,память вечная память таким чудным балеринам!!!!
I was so excited when I saw one of my ballet teachers Richard Ellis in the train footage on the train tracks hugging Margot Fonteyn. Richard Ellis and his wife Christine Duboulay moved to the U.S. and opened a ballet school in downtown Chicago in which I was one of their students in the late 1980's. Already in their sixties and seventies they were still going strong .
Margo was before her time...a free spirit living in a status quo world...a woman's worth contingent on being a married off woman.....Margo's worth was so much more than being some philanderer's wife... .how foolish we woman can be.
Saw them in 1966 at San Francisco Opera House in Romeo and Juliet. She looked like a teenager in his arms. Afterwards, I was allowed backstage. Margot came out first and signed my Playbill, then went off to meet Arias in his wheelchair, waiting in the wings. A little later, Nureyev came out, also signed my Playbill, and left to dinner/party, looking dashing in buccaneer boots, waistcoat, and breeches. All of this very memorable for a young dancer…
It was the pain that produced her greatness. None of us can have our cake and eat it to. The best ballerina in the world(the glory) the worst marriage in the world. (The pain)
Que tristeza mas grande!! Al final la vida ees ir perdiendo todo y asi fue para los dos también. Hubiéramos querido q fueran felices para siempre juntos.🌄
If only she had married Nureyev; they adored each other, had everything in common, a deep artistic and emotional connection. I think he went to pieces with his promiscuous life through losing her to that evil Arias when he was disabled. When you watch their Romeo and Juliet, you see more than theatrical amours; but their mutual deep need and special bond. However in Romeo and Juliet, we see the folly of only passionate love that leads to death. And in Fonteyn’s life we see instead heroic virtue in her care of the low life husband, true sacrificial love; the greatest of all loves. Rest in peace Margot Fonteyn.
yes, it is very sad she valued her public fantasy image more than her happiness. If she had married Nureyev, she might as well have saved his life along the road. Apparently he even asked her, but she said no.
@@Amphitera But i think, he was so much younger, maybe, as she turned over 50, he would leave her (he refused her as a ballet partner as she was arond 45 ... so he maybe would have refused her as lover as well. Sad story anyway. And Nourejew seemed really happy with her ...
Nureyev was truly happy with the love of his life. Erik was his partner in everything and his great inspiration. Nureyev was gay, so thank God he never married her cuz he would destroy his own life so as hers
I will never forget, backstage of Toronto's O'Keefe Center, when I was idly leaning against a table. A diminutive, neat, legwarmer-clad woman asks me if I can "scoot over" as she wants to put her hairpins on the table. I do, then realize: this is MARGOT FONTEYN! I watched, mesmerized, as this rather plain creature transformed into a romantic fantasy, all the while guiding and gently steering her terrified Australian young partner, quietly, respectfully, and oh so carefully.. He relaxed after a minute, a few "well done"'s, and seemed to grow in confidence under her tutelage. It was clear her talent & experience dwarfed his, yet she just worked, in a down to earth manner, absolutely unimpressed with her own gigantic legacy, subtly bolstering this novice, (albeit a blond, handsome, hunky young blade). The result was magic. The years disappeared from her, the young thing became a prince, and voila: a perfect pairing was accomplished. What a privilege to see this backstage process and the final performance!
The absolute prima ballerina assoluta , the embodiment of the English style and possible the greatest ballerina of all time. Pity she she had such awful self esteem. As to her and Rudi, it’s tragic she couldn’t embrace that love.
How terrible. She should have ditched him long before. She deserved so much better. What a nightmare being saddled with taking care of that creep for the rest of her life. How did he manage to mortgage their house under her nose when he was paralyzed and couldn't speak?!!
Margot lived during times when girls and women were owned by the father and then a husband. Margot was discreet, acted since she was 16 and had her first affair. After she married Tito she acting 🎭 in self control to show she was in charge of herself and Nureyev too. She was his final finishing school. His love 💕 for her was endless and visa versa. Their love had no boundaries.
That's the way the ballet world is. It isn't for the old. They have to stay afloat financially, art is a business. That's why they picked Copeland, as well.
As her assistant of many years said, Margot was not perfect. She continually chose creepy and sleazy companions. She was a poor judge of character which I attribute to her stage mother’s poor parenting. She was no different than Hollywood stage mothers. Yes their daughters were huge stars but what a personal price they all paid.
It is amazing that Margot continued dancing beautifully until 60! That doesn't happen now days. She was wonderfully talented. A true heartfelt natural. It is sad that she sent away someone who was good to her and loved her for a cheating quad pelagic. Well, he could no longer cheat on her, could he?
Yes he kept cheating. One 20 year mistress committed suicide the day he died. What a filthy Bastard he was. As a young ballet student I saw Dame Margot and Nureyev in NYC. Exquisite. My teacher was her friend and we met them both backstage. She was lovely and gracious. A memory I treasure. She is happy now and dancing in Paradise.
Thank you for this well balanced and truer account of her life than I knew. Accounts I had previously seen were all based upon interviews she gave and her book, which covered up many hidden truths which those close to her knew about. I found myself getting so angry when she told stories of her gun running and participation in Tito's schemes because they were so obviously very dangerous fantasies on the real truth. I did not know about the planned divorce. I live in Panama and wanted to visit her grave, but seeing the small plaque, I don't think I will bother. Panamanians do remember her with affection.
It's rare to see people naively giving these days...I am sure she had the purest of hearts...too pure for this world...that's generally the curse of talented people...
#Yes...but not all. Many times there are traps....to disturb a wonderful career and possible love. As dancer her love should be the Ballet. It is a pity she did not gave up the rest...........
The documentary is great. But I dont think it's the right mindset to say Fonteyn's life was just tragic and to portray her as such a tragic figure. Yes her life was complicated and her psyhcological complexity in keeping a certain front bred from internal blocks is moving. Yes, unfortunately it seems like she loved Tito but he did not love her back. And he used her etc. Awful stuff. But she got something out of it too. Another dimension aside from ballet. And fulfilling the caretaker role with her husband that was a need within her. It was crooked but it fit. Fonteyn had love in her life. Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev loved each other and at a point in time shared a loving and unique intimacy. And she had Roland Petite and others. Fonteyn laughed and loved and lived life to the fullest-and has a lasting legacy for all time. That's not too tragic. Fonteyn didnt even have good feet (although they got better over time) yet had the inestimable priviledge of being a ballet dancer, a prima ballerina assouluta, which is an incredible existence and honor which gives a person more fulfillment and joy than can be described. And there are thousands upon thousands of ballet dancers who could have been great and who worked year in and year out but never got the opportunities Fonteyn did so they never had the chance to manifest their full talents. Fonteyn was in rarified air. She fullfilled herself in the reality of being a great ballerina. She was built into something big. It could have gone either way. Her entire career she was favored over other dancers who were very extremely worthy and wonderful in their own right, such as Lynn Seymour and better technically, such as Antoinette Sibley. Yet Fonteyn maintained a dancing dominance fostered by Ninette de Valois' undying favor over her. Fonteyn was so greatly fortunate to have these unbelievable mentors. It enabled her to never stop blossoming. Fonteyn lived her life. Fuller than most people can even imagine. She was blessed in some extraordinary ways. She has been given admiration and love by the world. In fact she was extraordinarily lucky. Actually her having to continue her career past 40 to pay for Tito's quadraplegia was a blessing in disguise. She became a greater dancer through her years with the great Nureyev. Her life had tragic elements, like so many lives do, but overall Margot Fonteyn was uniquely conferred upon by higher divinities to have a most incredible and extraordinary life.
I am sure Nureyev and her fell in love with each other. it does not mean they were having sex. it happens all the time in the dance world. love is love. and u feel it onstage when it is authentic. they were amazing together
tony rizzi I read somewhere years ago that they would give an afternoon performance, go home and have sex, then do an evening performance. Yes, they were doing it.
It could just as easily have been a majorly serious yet non sexual relationship, as a sexual one. There is an inexplicable feeling of wonder,love and peace to be had, that usually only artistic types discover, to be had by close contact long hugs, cuddles, laying together on a couch spooning for a movie or a nap, or just talking, clothed, semi clothed, or naked, that is something so special feeling, especially for touch starved adults, that it is beyond sex, has nothing sexual about it. Think cuddle puddle or puppy pile or kittens all in a nest asleep, zero sex but incredible closeness that empowers all involved. Works for humans too!
Nureyev & she..... the medium being Internet is no excuse for slack or bad grammar. Why don’t English speakers respect their own language, others, and ultimately, themselves?
@@dougr.2398 Lately I feel that people are determined to express themselves, even though they aren't very articulate, have a limited vocabulary and poor grammar. There is no English instructor correcting their mistakes. Their comments are written and dictated hastily, but passionately. The net is truly an equal-opportunity means of expression. As a newspaper editor, it hurts my eyes to see errors. They are even in widely-read publications. If I correct someone, I might be jumped on for paying attention to trivial things like spelling, when there are so much more important things to fret about.
The one thing i sometimes fail to understand - if it's about Margot Fonteyn situation or so many film stars - they had a successful career of 20 or 30 years, earned a huge amount of money often millions.. and then the big surprise - not in demand anymore.. suddenly the money dries up.. and people have to feel pity... They often lived a huge lifestyle, blasted out their money, fair enough but feeling sorry when they 'suddenly' can't afford it anymore.. Anyway - what a life story.. Thanks for the upload
Anyone else having problems hearing this? For me the sound is very faint and in places crackly so certain words and phrases are completely lost. Have tried using a volume booster add-on to my Chromebook, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.
I found the captions are completely silly and whoever types them doesn't go over anything in the edit. Of course, I don't actually know how captions are done. Perhaps it is a vocational rehabilitation program for depressed chimpanzees.
Ho sempre ammirato in lei sopratutto la donna, il suo spirito d'avventura, la sua professionalità, la sua amabilita' e il suo spirito di sacrificio verso quell' orribile e non meritevole marito, le cui cure la spinsero a ballare fino ad età avanzata!
The end of the story was miserable! Unfortunately it seems she had no self-esteem, constantly naively sacrificing her wealth and energy to her horrible husband, instead of facing with reality and leaving him, alas!
Очень её жаль. Нуреев говорил, что нужно было на ней жениться. Я думаю, что его любовь была какой то смесью сыновей любви и любви к великой балерине. Зная его образ жизни и сексуальные предпочтения, я думаю речь не шла о совместном проживании, но она могла бы жить в роскоши до своей смерти и проводить время с друзьями и с Нуреевым - любящим её человеком.
Он говорил,что следовало бы на ней жениться своему помощнику после ее смерти.Но делал ли он ей такое предложение на самом деле? Вполне возможно,что у них были подобные разговоры до ранения Тито,но я слышала,что ее мать была против развода,как и сам Тито.А Марго была слишком большой заложницей образа добропорядочной дамы и слишком любезной для всех,чтобы решиться на серьезные перемены в своей жизни.Она предпочла ухаживать за своим мужем,который жил на ее деньги и все время изменял.С самоуважением у нее,похоже,были проблемы.И возможно Марго слишком хотела сохранить свой имидж счастливой семейной дамы.С Нуриевым она,наконец,ощутила себя настоящей женщиной и всю нерастраченную страсть и любовь выплеснула в танце и в отношениях с ним.Кто видел ее в танце с Нуриевым,отмечал,что она никогда так хорошо не танцевала.Она сделала свой выбор в семейной жизни и,к сожалению,ей достался не самый счастливый удел.Думаю,что Марго была слишком зависима от мнения других.Но,конечно,это только мое предположение.Эту правду они унесли с собой,оставив нам проживать удивительные моменты,глядя на их танец.
Well, this is a myth buster. I wonder if anyone ever knew her depth, if she ever opened up fully to anyone. It seems her public never let her down, so maybe that's what sustained her through the strife of her personal life, especially with nasty Tito. I hope she's at peace now.
Whether Fonteyn & Nureyev were actually lovers in the physical sense, I have no way of knowing for sure, though some who knew them well have stated that everyone in the ballet world knew they were. I don't understand why this should be that important to anyone other than those close to them whose lives might be affected by their 'affair'. She & Nureyev were perfect partners in their professional lives, which is what really matters to those of us who love ballet. In this as in other biographies of both of them, as in many comments here, there are repeated claims that because the two were such perfect dance partners, because their love & passion was visible onstage, that they most certainly had to have been lovers in their private lives. This claim is groundless, if understandable. Two artists can work together as deeply & as passionately as they did on stage & yet not be lovers. It does seem apparent that they loved one another & even felt passionate toward one another, in their private lives as well as stage lives, but two artists can feel this way without actually being lovers in the sexual physical sense. Their love & passion for their art was central to them both...love & passion & hard work are all required for creating great works of art. While not suggesting that they suppressed their sexual passion in order to direct it toward their art (I reject the Freudian theory behind this idea), I think it's entirely possible that their aesthetic passion in itself is what audiences perceive in their performances. Of course Nureyev might have been lovers with her, as it seems safe to say he was bisexual, but why he didn't propose marriage to her is unknown. Though he apparently did propose marriage to two other women, there could be many reasons he didn't propose to her, reasons known only to him & perhaps to Fonteyn. Perhaps he suggested marriage to her but with an understanding that he would not be faithful to her, that he would continue to have male lovers. Many marriages were made based on this understanding, especially in previous years when it was socially expected that everyone marry & when it was not so acceptable for either men or women to be anything other than heterosexual. And though alternative lives may have been acceptable within the ballet world, alternative lives could still damage a dancer's public career. It's fairly common for gay & bi men to have deep friendships with heterosexual women in which a deep level of love & passion exists, but in which that love & passion is not connected with actual love-making. Nothing unusual in that, except that too many people assume the relationship includes sex. But then, I've never understood why so many people think they have a right to pry so deeply into the lives of others, of strangers in particular, or why it matters whether a stranger is gay or bi or anything else. If they want to go public, fine. If not, allow them their privacy. I've always found it strange that a stranger might want to know what someone does with their intimate parts.
Thank you for your insightful comment; I read it with great interest. I used to admire Ulanova and Plisetskaya much more than I liked Fonteyn whose biography I read in my early teens but today I see that they were all very different indeed, all of them wonderful ballerinas, no doubt.
Perhaps he didn't ask her to marry because she was already married. Having just watched her history in her own words and voice, no matter how anyone else felt of Tito, it came across to me that she fell and remained deeply in love with him. As a person who believes that it is possible to feel that way about more than one person, perhaps she did have several great loves.
First of all, what a schmuck her husband was! Second of all, I don't know how she took the foot pain of dancing that late in life on pointe. I danced on pointe from 12 to 28. I then went back to school and became a physical therapist. I have done post-op hand therapy since 2003 and am off my feet more now. I am 58 now and I can't go to work without 800 mg of Motrin to deal with the arthritis in my toes. I have 4 more years until I retire. I hope I make it.
This story should be entitled - Charity !!! ‘Cause that’s what this lady’s life was. However, it doesn’t address how Margot catered to her parents. It is told from this movie clip that she didn’t see her father for over 12 years. Maybe, I missed some of that information, perhaps. Ma, tutto e buono !!! Arrivederla mio caro amici !!! Until next time !!! Godspeed to you all !!!
I had the privileged meeting Dame Margot on 2 occasions & Nureyev on one. I greatly admired the greatest ballerina of her generation. But I prefer the Tony Palmer film of her complex life rather than this BBC production. It is grainy, to watch, poor sound & profoundly lacking in artistic direction & editing. Why do men always feel they have to narrate & give the dominating insight into a great performers life & art? In the balance the female ballerina's at the Sadlers Wells/Royal Ballet greatly understood the intricacies & hardships of this challenging life even better than men.
The attempt at making the recording sound like a gramophone wrecked it for me. Sorry, I couldn’t listen to the story of my childhood idol because the sound hurt my ears 😢 The story of Dame Margot sells itself!
This is such a sad story. I never knew. I begged my mother to take me to see her dance in Durban, South Africa in the early 1970’s and we saw the most beautiful performance. Her age was obvious and yet, the magic of her dancing and her persona eclipsed it. Two tickets cost my mother a third of her monthly salary and I don’t know how she did it. We travelled 90 miles to see that performance and yet it lives in my heart to this day. Dame Margot Fonteyn was truly one of the greats. It is so sad that she has that tiny plaque on her grave. However, she has left a legacy indeed.
I saw her and Nureyev dance Swan Lake at the Albert Hall in Canberra,I was about 13 ,I was mesmerised,I'm almost 71 now and I've never forgotten it
Albert Hall! OMG! Is that where they performed?
I have always had respect for her as a ex-ballet dancer myself but i didnt know her life story. I have even more respect for her now knowing her beautiful qualities n on n off stage. She deserved a man who sincerly loved her . May GOD bless you with His Grace n eternal life...thank you for all the beauty n grace u have given us❤a true prima ballerina...Bravo🎉
I saw her a few times in performances....she was magnificent! The most beautiful and graceful dancer of all.
My favourite ballerina of all time. She anf Rudolph were magic indeed.
Nureyev and Fonteyn were a great dance partnership. They danced in perfect harmony.
What an interesting account of Margo Fonteyns life, So sad that her personal life was so unsettled, The partnership with Nureyev was something magical, I had the pleasure of seeing them both dance at Covent Garden and have always remembered it
I was fortunate enough to have been stationed in London in the late 50’s in the Air Force. I was introduced to the magic of Fonteyn and the Royal Ballet, and enjoyed experiencing the performances for two seasons. One of the most exciting exciting experiencing of my life!, Will never forget the beauty and delicacy of Margot Fonteyn,,,
Dame Margot Fonteyn was a legend as was the fantastic Rudolf Nureyev they made the ballet world what it is today thank you.
Марго Фонтейн👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽балерина,которая продлила свою творческую жизнь надолго,во многом благодаря Нурееву.Истинная леди.В личной жизни столько ей пришлось пережить.Но она стоически всё выдержала.И свою карму пронесла достойно,как настоящая женщина.Очень трогательные отношения были у них с Нуреевым.Очень человеческие,настоящие,проверенные всей жизнью.Спасибо.
...had the great, good fortune to be a student, being taught by Pamela May and Julia Farron, amongst other amazing teachers and having the honour to be on stage with Dame Margot and Nureyev. Whenever seen walking the school's corridors, what stood out most, was her humbleness, unique beauty and grace and through the years, can honestly say, the title 'Royal', belongs to the greatest ballerina of all time, Dame Margot Fonteyn and to Dame Ninette de Valois, without whom, the legend that is today's Royal Ballet, would not exist. XX
😢
This is a sad, sad story....Dame Margo brought such joy to so many people, and yet her own life was one of tragedy.
Королевский титул - дали !А надгробие нормальное не поставили!!!позорище!!!
Me as well! Although I suspect I came along a little later: 1971. I was in Farron’s and May’s calluses as they had retired. Fonteyn and Nureyev were still dancing. I was the only American at the school and we weren’t allowed to be in any class if a scout came to look. However, unbeknownst to me at the time, Nureyev was campaigning for me to have a real chance. Fonteyn was just so stunning in every way. A complex person who seemed as innocent as Sleeping Beauty but led a much more complicated and tormented life. Thank god for Nureyev who anonymously cared for her and paid her considerable bills (medical and others) as she was slowly dying. Nureyev himself was dying, too. Both stars forgotten although Rudolph more than Fonteyn whom Ninette de Valois organized a great gala in her honor at Covent Garden.
Watching this clip from the greatest Pas in the greatest moment in the greatest ballet, Act II Giselle - it was Nureyev who was the greater actor - Fonteyn had a body that imbued perfect proportions but Nureyev’s use of his head and port de bras and lifts shows the amazing symmetry that Nureyev created . Who knows how much greater he heights Fonteyn could have achieved if not dragged down by her wretched husband
What an amazing ballerina!! Her imagery and presence shall grace us all!!
Нежная, женственная, и такая стоическая, преданная, человечная. Не устаю восхищаться не только балериной, но и личностью великой женщины. Прожив жизнь, не могу никого поставить рядом с ней по всем статьям. Дуэт и отношения с Нуриевым многое добавляют в её судьбе.❤
Such a lovely lady, I was very sad when she passed away. A joy to everyone.
i just finished reading Colum McCann's "Dancer" about Nureyev. Came here to learn more about Margot and wow- what a heartbreaking but hauntingly beautiful life.
Нуреев любил Фонтейн искренне только её ,Он до конца ее жизни помогал ей ,Великие танцоры жизнь прожита не зря Браво ❤❤❤
It’s been said that she had already been greatly disappointed in love. Her fantasy love 💕 life dancing and her dreams sustained her. She was a great dancer and was immersed in dance the way Nureyev was. Their love was real in her and his life. He saw her uncritical loyalty and knew how her status raised his. She helped him grow into a man, polished off his rough edges, and demonstrated diplomacy to him.
Her happiness with him was completely real. He took loving care of her after Tito stole all her money. When Nureyev loved, he loved well. She had a fairy tale life with Rudi.
Руди высылал Марго деньги на лечение и на расходы.И делал это инкогнито! Но я думаю что Марго всегда знала кто присылает ей деньги! ❤❤❤Руди верный друг!
Her ability and contribution to dance is well documented and although technique has improved markedly, her beauty and grace is still astounding. And that smile..... breathtaking.
She must have loved him !!!
Certainly !! Every word u say !! She took care of her man in loneliness and peniless ! Her dance always moved me!!!
I have heard otherwise. Technique has deteriorated. It demands more than the human body is capable of doing without damage.
The Cechetti style of The Six Days strengthens the body. Amusingly, it is considered "too hard" (!) for modern dancers.
F i
I feel so bad for the last days of her life. She is a dancing Angel. I hope some day return to Panama and put beautiful roses just like her in her graveyard. She deserve more. She deserve to be remember for ever.
Susan Avenue thanks for video. You are so right, this woman was not only a great dancer but also a great lady
In spite of what the narrators of this worthwhile film about the private life of Margot Fonteyn say, it is well known today within the ballet world that Fonteyn and Nureyev were lovers throughout their partnership. At the time, he was a gay man and she was a married woman with a title. People respected public figures enough in the 1960's and early 1970's, when they were in their prime as partners, not to even speculate as to the romantic nature of their personal relationship. And while Kenneth MacMillan may have been disappointed that the manager of the Royal Ballet (in London) and Sol Hurok (in New York) insisted that Fonteyn and Nureyev dance the premiere of his production of Romeo and Juliet instead of the dancers upon whom the roles it had been created, their performance together in this piece was, in many of their fans' minds, their signature piece and one their most compelling feats of as a team of dancers. They transported audiences to heights of ecstasy and rapture that enabled both spectators to transcend the limitations of mortal love and experience a collective love that left them literally reeling after the balcony scene in Act I. The chemistry between Fonteyn and Nureyev was unlike that of any other pair of dancers who ever danced together--more powerful and unique than any team in history. On average they received nineteen curtain calls a night and at openings and premieres their curtains calls were in the forties. And if people within the Royal Ballet resented them it was foolish because as a pair they actually drew more attention to the other splendid principals of the Royal Ballet, such as Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell, Svetlana Beriosova and so on--so that these dancers enjoyed far more attention and acclaim in their day because of the large audiences Fonteyn and Nureyev were attracting in general for the Royal Ballet. Ask yourself, when was the last time the Royal Ballet booked the Metropolitan Opera House in New York for six weeks in May? Rudolf Nureyev was one of the dancers in history who regularly was capable of packing any opera house he danced in to the max. And with the exception of the very last few years of her career, Fonteyn gave 200% every time she danced with Nureyev and never had to apologize or "cheat" anything technically. She was stronger technically at 45 than she had been at 25. She had nothing to apologize for. I have never heard it said that Nureyev coerced her into retirement. If anything, he wanted her to continue dancing as long as possible and feared the day she would no longer be there to intervene between the management of the Royal Ballet and himself as an artist. He has stated his anticipation of this in an interview; he expected that as soon as she retired he would be kept around "to fill the house" and, again, as he expected, when Ashton retired, he was not offered the opportunity to become Artistic Director at any point in the future. Throughout his entire partnership with Fonteyn he was touring with other companies and dancing with many, many ballerinas. He had never been cornered into an exclusive partnership with Fonteyn. Their partnership was simply the most remarkable, power, romantic, riveting and suspenseful partnership on stage in dance history. At one point following Fonteyn's inability to persuade Tito to be reasonable and grant her a divorce, Nureyev said privately that he ought to have married her, meaning given her the dignity of being a woman married to a man who truly loved and respected her and was a real partner in the most vital sense of word. He never did ask her to marry him however. He was a gay man throughout his love affair with Fonteyn--something she handled with the sophistication and acceptance with which she handled many of the dichotomies in her life. Nureyev did not have great luck in relationships either. Erik Bruhn, his great and teacher, eventually left him after ten years when Nureyev's so eclipsed his own that he could no longer tolerate being in his shadow. The two women whom Nureyev fell in love with in the course of his life and asked to marry him (one on two continents) both turned him down. And while living with his teacher and the teacher's wife while at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg enabled him to receive the love, nurturing and protection of his mentor and his wife, Xenia, Xenia took terrible advantage of young Nureyev. She cooked for him, did his laundry. sewed elastics on his ballet slippers, pampered him, read to him, encouraged, picked him up after performances by the time he was performing with the Kirov--so that he could finally concentrate 100% on his art and create the innovations in male roles in classical ballets that made him famous before he even left Russia--but she expected him to make love to her in return for all of these things and kept a maniacal stranglehold on him. All of the things Xenia did for him she should have done out of the goodness of her heart and the love she had for this talented young artist. But she was a selfish, middle aged woman who could help herself. It is terribly sad that Nureyev was faced with having to respond to her desperate need to be made love to in order to receive the nurturing he so needed as an artist so that he could focus totally on his work. What a cynical point of view he was forced to accept in the bargain in order to keep things happen in the household where he had finally found the understanding and nurturing as an artist that he deserved. Having come from poverty and a family that he knew very well was backward and uneducated, he too was desperate to be informed, encouraged and taught the finer things in life. It is pitiful what he had to endure at the hands of Xenia. And yet, according to the story in Julie Kavanagh's definitive biography of him, he seems to have extended a terribly mature compassion and patience to her that almost seems beyond his years. People carry on about how he had to leave Russia because he was gay and because he wanted to dance on the world stage. But how would he ever have escaped Xenia had he stayed in Russia. She exploited him and his mentor, Pushkin, either looked the other way or slept through it night after night. I suspect the latter. It's my observation over many, many decades that the love lives of ballet dancers are never easy. I think the relationship that Fonteyn and Nureyev had was possible one of the happiest and most successful romantic relationships in ballet history. And as one of the narrators says, anyone who saw them dance together in their prime could feel the genuine passion and love between them. It ignited the ballet boom in the west and they toured extensively for years. Together, they are responsible for igniting and spreading the ballet audience in the west during the second half of the 20th century. One last note: in the final years of Fonteyn's life with TIto, as stated in the documentary, they had endless money problems. Nureyev paid for both Fonteyn and Tito's medical bills--no questions asked. One reason that there is such a small plaque for Fonteyn in the Arias family gravesite is that she was buried in a public grave with masses of corpses she had no relation to other than having been "first lady" of Panama in her fantasies at one moment in her life.
Janet Shannon. ....kudos. ..an awesome, truly lovely reply and comment...
Janet Shannon 0
Suzanne Youn
Thank you for educating us in depth.
excellent comment, Janet Shannon.
This was one GREAT lady! I had the honor of working with her and knowing her for a while-I treasure that time!
This is Rosine Bena -mother of Ananda
@Vlodec Ur nasty..and just plain jealous..
Best prima ballerina before Yulia Makhalina came.. One of the most breathtakingly charming, truthful, moving and strong human being I have ever seen on stage and in real life. ...Hats off !!!
@Vlodec and ur not..😂😂
Beautiful lady she gave so much and deserved so much better :(
Rudolf must have loved her, because he paid for all her medical and hospital bills when she was sick and some said he was very sad and lost when she passed. He himself was very sick with aids when she died and didn't or couldn't attend her funeral. There is all kinds of love. Maybe she was the only woman he was capable of loving. He told his personal assistant in the last years of his life that he should have married her. I think they definitely expressed their love and passion on stage. With Tito's cheating on her, she still had that love on stage and who knows, possibly off stage. I really don't see that kind of passion when I watch the videos of Rudolf dancing with other ballerinas. He said that Margot and he were like one, body and soul when they performed. Wow, talk about loving your job! ❤
I wouldn't have
Even married that creep. How could she have stayed with that ass.
Very interesting video about the great Margot, many thanks Susan Avenue for sharing it!
She was breathtaking; her technique, artistry, the lines, especially with Nureyev. While today's ballerinas are stronger, they don't have the technical perfection of Margot. Her husband was the worst. Wiki mentions that he had 3 kids with his first wife while hers says nothing.
大好きな、マーゴ フォンティーンを観る事が出来てとても嬉しいです。貴重な映像をありがとうございます♪
Rudolf Nureyev helped her till the end of life!!
She was a beautiful, amazing lady.
I followed her career some, read her autobio and saw hagiographic documentaries. Without question a dancer of genius, this is an interesting portrait of all that went in behind that triumphant image. Of course, I suspected the life she presented was a fantasy, as portrayed here. Thanks for posting.
What a great soul 🌹
Rest in the Joy of our Risen Lord, dear Lady 🙏🏼🎆👑
What a tragic life Margot Fonteyn had she helped so many people in her life, and being The Greatest Ballerina in the Century, not forgetting Darcey Bursell. So very sad she deserved more in her life. What a Woman.
bussell not bursell
Sorry typo error
Darsie Bussel was a wonderful dancer….. but not in the league of world famous like Fonteyn, Nureyev, Barishnikov….
Yeah, I was shook after I watched a documentary of her life ... in particular in her later years. The snooty ballet world was demonic....period. I do wish she would have just left ole Tito and Annabella to themselves. Such a damn cheat he was.
@@heaven7360 I also think her biggest mistake was taking Tito back to London with five bullets in him and against the wishes of the Arias family. That was her biggest error. Had she left him in Panama he might not have lost his speech and she could have declared that his family did not wish her to take him away. Then after a few years she could have divorced him quietly based on them living separate lives. She should actually have done that as soon as he stayed away from her the first time. However, we all make our choices. A lesson in life to look beyond the obvious. Many a charlatan roaming around these days!
Обожаю Марго Фонтейн!!!Выразительна лицом, жестами,в танце все играет роль.Она очень женственна,чувственна и это ее главное отличие от других известных балерин на Западе!!!!!!Память,память вечная память таким чудным балеринам!!!!
I was so excited when I saw one of my ballet teachers Richard Ellis in the train footage on the train tracks hugging Margot Fonteyn. Richard Ellis and his wife Christine Duboulay moved to the U.S. and opened a ballet school in downtown Chicago in which I was one of their students in the late 1980's. Already in their sixties and seventies they were still going strong .
Balletland is little. What a cool story. :)
Love Margot, in my eyes she will always be perfection
such a beautiful woman, such a heartbreaking life.
Margo was before her time...a free spirit living in a status quo world...a woman's worth contingent on being a married off woman.....Margo's worth was so much more than being some philanderer's wife... .how foolish we woman can be.
Saw them in 1966 at San Francisco Opera House in Romeo and Juliet. She looked like a teenager in his arms.
Afterwards, I was allowed backstage. Margot came out first and signed my Playbill, then went off to meet Arias in his wheelchair, waiting in the wings.
A little later, Nureyev came out, also signed my Playbill, and left to dinner/party, looking dashing in buccaneer boots, waistcoat, and breeches.
All of this very memorable for a young dancer…
It was the pain that produced her greatness. None of us can have our cake and eat it to. The best ballerina in the world(the glory) the worst marriage in the world. (The pain)
Her whole life, was a Fantasy, she Also Was A Very Good, Loyal Person..God Bless Her...
Cómo se puede pasar de los brazos de Rudolph Nureyev a los brazos de este Tito ??? Imposible !
An astounding dancer; and unfortunatly a damn fool.
...yes, living her whole life as a fantasy....and the sad thing is she was never truly loved by a man.
She was my friend., an adorable person.She asked us all to pray for her.
Wow. I saw her and Nureyev's farewell performances, but to have known her. So very cool.
I will.
@@FredricEric me too
So wonderful and sad to have been her friend. To have see her life up close.
Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that Margot Fonteyn rests in peace for eternity in His arms. Amen
Que tristeza mas grande!! Al final la vida ees ir perdiendo todo y asi fue para los dos también. Hubiéramos querido q fueran felices para siempre juntos.🌄
She suffered in silence. She dies penniless and couldn't even pay for her own cancer treatment. Makes me sad...
Margot Fonteyn. An Artist. For her lifetime
And forever..🎁🎁💝🎈
If only she had married Nureyev; they adored each other, had everything in common, a deep artistic and emotional connection. I think he went to pieces with his promiscuous life through losing her to that evil Arias when he was disabled.
When you watch their Romeo and Juliet, you see more than theatrical amours; but their mutual deep need and special bond.
However in Romeo and Juliet, we see the folly of only passionate love that leads to death.
And in Fonteyn’s life we see instead heroic virtue in her care of the low life husband, true sacrificial love; the greatest of all loves. Rest in peace Margot Fonteyn.
So true, and how beautifully written!
Megan Hussey Thankyou for your kind reply. Thank God we have films of their performances to cherish..I nearly said ’footage’; well that too. Bless.
yes, it is very sad she valued her public fantasy image more than her happiness. If she had married Nureyev, she might as well have saved his life along the road. Apparently he even asked her, but she said no.
@@Amphitera But i think, he was so much younger, maybe, as she turned over 50, he would leave her (he refused her as a ballet partner as she was arond 45 ... so he maybe would have refused her as lover as well.
Sad story anyway. And Nourejew seemed really happy with her ...
Nureyev was truly happy with the love of his life. Erik was his partner in everything and his great inspiration. Nureyev was gay, so thank God he never married her cuz he would destroy his own life so as hers
I will never forget, backstage of Toronto's O'Keefe Center, when I was idly leaning against a table. A diminutive, neat, legwarmer-clad woman asks me if I can "scoot over" as she wants to put her hairpins on the table. I do, then realize: this is MARGOT FONTEYN! I watched, mesmerized, as this rather plain creature transformed into a romantic fantasy, all the while guiding and gently steering her terrified Australian young partner, quietly, respectfully, and oh so carefully.. He relaxed after a minute, a few "well done"'s, and seemed to grow in confidence under her tutelage. It was clear her talent & experience dwarfed his, yet she just worked, in a down to earth manner, absolutely unimpressed with her own gigantic legacy, subtly bolstering this novice, (albeit a blond, handsome, hunky young blade). The result was magic. The years disappeared from her, the young thing became a prince, and voila: a perfect pairing was accomplished. What a privilege to see this backstage process and the final performance!
such a gracious soul.
Alana Ronald Q
So sad a life for such a genius
What a magical story!
Alana Ronald )p
Such a beautiful woman body, soul and minds.. Legend in Paradise.. Bless.. ❤️ 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️
She is a real angel
The absolute prima ballerina assoluta , the embodiment of the English style and possible the greatest ballerina of all time. Pity she she had such awful self esteem.
As to her and Rudi, it’s tragic she couldn’t embrace that love.
How terrible. She should have ditched him long before. She deserved so much better. What a nightmare being saddled with taking care of that creep for the rest of her life. How did he manage to mortgage their house under her nose when he was paralyzed and couldn't speak?!!
Fr I’m so confused rn
Margot lived during times when girls and women were owned by the father and then a husband. Margot was discreet, acted since she was 16 and had her first affair. After she married Tito she acting 🎭 in self control to show she was in charge of herself and Nureyev too. She was his final finishing school. His love 💕 for her was endless and visa versa. Their love had no boundaries.
Tito was a parasite that she had refused to take seriously. Dancing and Nureyev were all she took seriously.
Absolutely
Very devious.
Watch carefully. It is a story to be placed in a specific time. Political, personal, artistic. Unique
Gracias por este maravilloso documental.
I'm wondering if her taking care of Tito wasn't martyrdom, devotion, or love--but REVENGE!
Ha! She finally had CONTROL over him.
And by the way, thank you grateful ballet world and Arias family for betraying Fonteyn at the end. I mean, all she did was save your asses. No biggie.
sopranosd: right?
That's the way the ballet world is. It isn't for the old. They have to stay afloat financially, art is a business. That's why they picked Copeland, as well.
As her assistant of many years said, Margot was not perfect. She continually chose creepy and sleazy companions. She was a poor judge of character which I attribute to her stage mother’s poor parenting. She was no different than Hollywood stage mothers. Yes their daughters were huge stars but what a personal price they all paid.
Yuk how in the WORLD could she luv Tito? yuk
It is amazing that Margot continued dancing beautifully until 60! That doesn't happen now days. She was wonderfully talented. A true heartfelt natural. It is sad that she sent away someone who was good to her and loved her for a cheating quad pelagic. Well, he could no longer cheat on her, could he?
You wouldn't think so! But then Stephen Hawking had an affair and married his nurse ...
David Copperfield-not the magician b
Yes he kept cheating. One 20 year mistress committed suicide the day he died. What a filthy Bastard he was.
As a young ballet student I saw Dame Margot and Nureyev in NYC. Exquisite. My teacher was her friend and we met them both backstage. She was lovely and gracious. A memory I treasure.
She is happy now and dancing in Paradise.
@@shombie2737 have you seen a pic of Stephen? His nurse married his $$
Sound is too low, even though I've got the volume turned up all the way.
Thank you for posting this story xx
So tragic. Why oh why do women sacrifice themselves for so little in return?
Because they are fundamentally nice and brought up to be pleases. Fortunately this is now changing and less woman put up with rubbish.
Thank you for this well balanced and truer account of her life than I knew. Accounts I had previously seen were all based upon interviews she gave and her book, which covered up many hidden truths which those close to her knew about. I found myself getting so angry when she told stories of her gun running and participation in Tito's schemes because they were so obviously very dangerous fantasies on the real truth. I did not know about the planned divorce. I live in Panama and wanted to visit her grave, but seeing the small plaque, I don't think I will bother. Panamanians do remember her with affection.
Margot maravilhosa .👏👏👏👏🌞👏❤️🥰❤️🥰
Margot Fonteyn would have been lovely to co-star with Nureyev on Julie Andrews` Invitation to the Dance. What a compelling trio that would have been!!
It's rare to see people naively giving these days...I am sure she had the purest of hearts...too pure for this world...that's generally the curse of talented people...
#Yes...but not all. Many times there are traps....to disturb a wonderful career and possible love. As dancer her love should be the Ballet. It is a pity she did not gave up the rest...........
malfalad79 you can say that again
@Vlodec stfu..you damn hateful troll..
Tito was shot on my birthday..June 8th..1964..I was 10 years old..what a gift..🎁🎁🎈🎈
The documentary is great. But I dont think it's the right mindset to say Fonteyn's life was just tragic and to portray her as such a tragic figure.
Yes her life was complicated and her psyhcological complexity in keeping a certain front bred from internal blocks is moving.
Yes, unfortunately it seems like she loved Tito but he did not love her back. And he used her etc. Awful stuff. But she got something out of it too. Another dimension aside from ballet. And fulfilling the caretaker role with her husband that was a need within her. It was crooked but it fit.
Fonteyn had love in her life. Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev loved each other and at a point in time shared a loving and unique intimacy. And she had Roland Petite and others.
Fonteyn laughed and loved and lived life to the fullest-and has a lasting legacy for all time. That's not too tragic.
Fonteyn didnt even have good feet (although they got better over time) yet had the inestimable priviledge of being a ballet dancer, a prima ballerina assouluta, which is an incredible existence and honor which gives a person more fulfillment and joy than can be described.
And there are thousands upon thousands of ballet dancers who could have been great and who worked year in and year out but never got the opportunities Fonteyn did so they never had the chance to manifest their full talents.
Fonteyn was in rarified air. She fullfilled herself in the reality of being a great ballerina. She was built into something big. It could have gone either way.
Her entire career she was favored over other dancers who were very extremely worthy and wonderful in their own right, such as Lynn Seymour and better technically, such as Antoinette Sibley.
Yet Fonteyn maintained a dancing dominance fostered by Ninette de Valois' undying favor over her.
Fonteyn was so greatly fortunate to have these unbelievable mentors. It enabled her to never stop blossoming.
Fonteyn lived her life. Fuller than most people can even imagine. She was blessed in some extraordinary ways.
She has been given admiration and love by the world. In fact she was extraordinarily lucky.
Actually her having to continue her career past 40 to pay for Tito's quadraplegia was a blessing in disguise. She became a greater dancer through her years with the great Nureyev.
Her life had tragic elements, like so many lives do, but overall Margot Fonteyn was uniquely conferred upon by higher divinities to have a most incredible and extraordinary life.
OH for heaven's sake stop harping on about feet! Instead look at the consummate artist you idiot
Ninette de Valois is the stage name of Edris Stannus. But indeed, a great video and very to the point comment to which I agree wholeheartedly.
I am sure Nureyev and her fell in love with each other. it does not mean they were having sex. it happens all the time in the dance world. love is love. and u feel it onstage when it is authentic. they were amazing together
tony rizzi
I read somewhere years ago that they would give an afternoon performance, go home and have sex, then do an evening performance. Yes, they were doing it.
It could just as easily have been a majorly serious yet non sexual relationship, as a sexual one. There is an inexplicable feeling of wonder,love and peace to be had, that usually only artistic types discover, to be had by close contact long hugs, cuddles, laying together on a couch spooning for a movie or a nap, or just talking, clothed, semi clothed, or naked, that is something so special feeling, especially for touch starved adults, that it is beyond sex, has nothing sexual about it. Think cuddle puddle or puppy pile or kittens all in a nest asleep, zero sex but incredible closeness that empowers all involved. Works for humans too!
tony rizzi
Every word true...😘💞💫🌷
Nureyev & she..... the medium being Internet is no excuse for slack or bad grammar. Why don’t English speakers respect their own language, others, and ultimately, themselves?
@@dougr.2398 Lately I feel that people are determined to express themselves, even though they aren't very articulate, have a limited vocabulary and poor grammar. There is no English instructor correcting their mistakes. Their comments are written and dictated hastily, but passionately. The net is truly an equal-opportunity means of expression. As a newspaper editor, it hurts my eyes to see errors. They are even in widely-read publications.
If I correct someone, I might be jumped on for paying attention to trivial things like spelling, when there are so much more important things to fret about.
The one thing i sometimes fail to understand - if it's about Margot Fonteyn situation or so many film stars - they had a successful career of 20 or 30 years, earned a huge amount of money often millions.. and then the big surprise - not in demand anymore.. suddenly the money dries up.. and people have to feel pity... They often lived a huge lifestyle, blasted out their money, fair enough but feeling sorry when they 'suddenly' can't afford it anymore.. Anyway - what a life story.. Thanks for the upload
Huge medical bills for the uninsured, perhaps? I dont know if ballet troupes have insurance.
Tito had to be supported. He had used up his own money on a failing campaign. She became the breadwinner.
Anyone else having problems hearing this? For me the sound is very faint and in places crackly so certain words and phrases are completely lost. Have tried using a volume booster add-on to my Chromebook, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.
PaperCup Apologies, the documentary was captured from a screen, that’s why the audio quality it’s not very high. I hope you still manage to enjoy it!
tots hard to hear
Use earbuds to enhance low quality audio.
I found the captions are completely silly and whoever types them doesn't go over anything in the edit. Of course, I don't actually know how captions are done. Perhaps it is a vocational rehabilitation program for depressed chimpanzees.
@@shombie2737 It's computers. It's always nonsense. Try any film, whatever: nonsense. In Dutch also.
Ho sempre ammirato in lei sopratutto la donna, il suo spirito d'avventura, la sua professionalità, la sua amabilita' e il suo spirito di sacrificio verso quell' orribile e non meritevole marito, le cui cure la spinsero a ballare fino ad età avanzata!
Só tem um detalhe: ela não se importou com a dor de Nureyev. Tudo pelo cafajeste do marido.
The sound ‘s like he’s scuba diving off the coast of Honolulu 😩
The end of the story was miserable!
Unfortunately it seems she had no self-esteem, constantly naively sacrificing her wealth and energy to her horrible husband, instead of facing with reality and leaving him, alas!
#BRAVO SHOOKA A.!Exactly.
Ahhh....! Have you never been in love?
such a strong woman. Unbelievable.
Back then, there was Margot Fonteyn, Vivien Leigh and the Queen; I can remember them all being so similar for all the right reasons.
The assistant is incomprehensible
Subtitles needed
She was going yo divorce Tito but then he got shot and she stayed. He destroyed her life.
Очень её жаль. Нуреев говорил, что нужно было на ней жениться. Я думаю, что его любовь была какой то смесью сыновей любви и любви к великой балерине.
Зная его образ жизни и сексуальные предпочтения, я думаю речь не шла о совместном проживании, но она могла бы жить в роскоши до своей смерти и проводить время с друзьями и с Нуреевым - любящим её человеком.
Он говорил,что следовало бы на ней жениться своему помощнику после ее смерти.Но делал ли он ей такое предложение на самом деле? Вполне возможно,что у них были подобные разговоры до ранения Тито,но я слышала,что ее мать была против развода,как и сам Тито.А Марго была слишком большой заложницей образа добропорядочной дамы и слишком любезной для всех,чтобы решиться на серьезные перемены в своей жизни.Она предпочла ухаживать за своим мужем,который жил на ее деньги и все время изменял.С самоуважением у нее,похоже,были проблемы.И возможно Марго слишком хотела сохранить свой имидж счастливой семейной дамы.С Нуриевым она,наконец,ощутила себя настоящей женщиной и всю нерастраченную страсть и любовь выплеснула в танце и в отношениях с ним.Кто видел ее в танце с Нуриевым,отмечал,что она никогда так хорошо не танцевала.Она сделала свой выбор в семейной жизни и,к сожалению,ей достался не самый счастливый удел.Думаю,что Марго была слишком зависима от мнения других.Но,конечно,это только мое предположение.Эту правду они унесли с собой,оставив нам проживать удивительные моменты,глядя на их танец.
Well, this is a myth buster. I wonder if anyone ever knew her depth, if she ever opened up fully to anyone. It seems her public never let her down, so maybe that's what sustained her through the strife of her personal life, especially with nasty Tito. I hope she's at peace now.
Whether Fonteyn & Nureyev were actually lovers in the physical sense, I have no way of knowing for sure, though some who knew them well have stated that everyone in the ballet world knew they were. I don't understand why this should be that important to anyone other than those close to them whose lives might be affected by their 'affair'. She & Nureyev were perfect partners in their professional lives, which is what really matters to those of us who love ballet.
In this as in other biographies of both of them, as in many comments here, there are repeated claims that because the two were such perfect dance partners, because their love & passion was visible onstage, that they most certainly had to have been lovers in their private lives. This claim is groundless, if understandable. Two artists can work together as deeply & as passionately as they did on stage & yet not be lovers. It does seem apparent that they loved one another & even felt passionate toward one another, in their private lives as well as stage lives, but two artists can feel this way without actually being lovers in the sexual physical sense. Their love & passion for their art was central to them both...love & passion & hard work are all required for creating great works of art. While not suggesting that they suppressed their sexual passion in order to direct it toward their art (I reject the Freudian theory behind this idea), I think it's entirely possible that their aesthetic passion in itself is what audiences perceive in their performances.
Of course Nureyev might have been lovers with her, as it seems safe to say he was bisexual, but why he didn't propose marriage to her is unknown. Though he apparently did propose marriage to two other women, there could be many reasons he didn't propose to her, reasons known only to him & perhaps to Fonteyn. Perhaps he suggested marriage to her but with an understanding that he would not be faithful to her, that he would continue to have male lovers. Many marriages were made based on this understanding, especially in previous years when it was socially expected that everyone marry & when it was not so acceptable for either men or women to be anything other than heterosexual. And though alternative lives may have been acceptable within the ballet world, alternative lives could still damage a dancer's public career.
It's fairly common for gay & bi men to have deep friendships with heterosexual women in which a deep level of love & passion exists, but in which that love & passion is not connected with actual love-making. Nothing unusual in that, except that too many people assume the relationship includes sex.
But then, I've never understood why so many people think they have a right to pry so deeply into the lives of others, of strangers in particular, or why it matters whether a stranger is gay or bi or anything else. If they want to go public, fine. If not, allow them their privacy. I've always found it strange that a stranger might want to know what someone does with their intimate parts.
Thank you for your insightful comment; I read it with great interest. I used to admire Ulanova and Plisetskaya much more than I liked Fonteyn whose biography I read in my early teens but today I see that they were all very different indeed, all of them wonderful ballerinas, no doubt.
Perhaps he didn't ask her to marry because she was already married. Having just watched her history in her own words and voice, no matter how anyone else felt of Tito, it came across to me that she fell and remained deeply in love with him. As a person who believes that it is possible to feel that way about more than one person, perhaps she did have several great loves.
So ....she was a giver, and a forgiver. That is _exactly_ what God asks of us. He's the judge of hearts in the end.
Wow the British ballet world did nothing for her either? How truly disgusting.
40:00 Not to mention the fact that Nureyev was involved with other male dancers ...
My mother was a hairdresser to the stars in 1947 and she used to Margot's hair.
What a pity Tito Survived and ruined her life.
' YES! YOU SUMMARIZED.
YES!
He had a very long extremely successful carrier was adored by all' that is not a ruined life.
No one forced her to stay with him until the end and support his entire family.
First of all, what a schmuck her husband was! Second of all, I don't know how she took the foot pain of dancing that late in life on pointe. I danced on pointe from 12 to 28. I then went back to school and became a physical therapist. I have done post-op hand therapy since 2003 and am off my feet more now. I am 58 now and I can't go to work without 800 mg of Motrin to deal with the arthritis in my toes. I have 4 more years until I retire. I hope I make it.
As the audio is not good, please add sub-titles. The automatic sub-titles are awful..
This story should be entitled - Charity !!! ‘Cause that’s what this lady’s life was. However, it doesn’t address how Margot catered to her parents. It is told from this movie clip that she didn’t see her father for over 12 years. Maybe, I missed some of that information, perhaps. Ma, tutto e buono !!! Arrivederla mio caro amici !!! Until next time !!! Godspeed to you all !!!
Maaaaaaaaaaan, talk about suffering in silence.
Thank You
Fabulous!!!!!!!!
The audio for this is very odd. Was it done over an old 1940s telephone 📞?
The Little Ballerina love it
How can I buy the little ballerina on DVD please thank you .
김현주약사여래불공주님이 마고트폰테인인데요
Terrible sound! Please have this corrected so that the documentary can be seen and understood! Thanks
A Rose for Emily, the Faulkner story, not necessarily the Zombies song, comes to mind.
I had the privileged meeting Dame Margot on 2 occasions & Nureyev on one. I greatly admired the greatest ballerina of her generation. But I prefer the Tony Palmer film of her complex life rather than this BBC production. It is grainy, to watch, poor sound & profoundly lacking in artistic direction & editing. Why do men always feel they have to narrate & give the dominating insight into a great performers life & art? In the balance the female ballerina's at the Sadlers Wells/Royal Ballet greatly understood the intricacies & hardships of this challenging life even better than men.
Hello hola ehat is the name of the film you liked ? Can I see it in TH-cam?
From South America Argentina .
@@oladeseame Tony Palmer's film of Margot is on youtube - search under her name for the documentary. I agree it is very good.
@@annastinehammersdottir1290 *
What strenght...
The attempt at making the recording sound like a gramophone wrecked it for me. Sorry, I couldn’t listen to the story of my childhood idol because the sound hurt my ears 😢
The story of Dame Margot sells itself!
Dance for life -
Did she really love her husband?.I wonder. Duty doesn't have place in matter of the heart. A Great ballerina I admire her lots!
Why did she allow this despicable man do these awful things to her !! He did not deserve her !
Perhaps she was looking for her father, who had also been very little present. That's why she may have forgiven everything.